Annual report 2010

The total number of European patent filings in 2010, more than 235 000, showed a sizeable increase of 11% over the previous year, reaching an all-time high, far in excess of filing levels prior to the world economic crisis and even above the record levels of 2008. The economic recovery has thus found its way into the patent world, too.

Almost 60% of all filings came from non-European states. The largest applicant country was the USA (26%), followed by Japan (18%), Germany (14%), and a group of three countries (China, South Korea and France) with around 5% each. The biggest increase in patent applications was in those originating in Asia.

The total number of patent filings included 71 367 direct European applications and 163 662 PCT international phase applications. About 79 600 PCT applications entered the European phase. The strong growth in direct European applications (+ 28%) is partially explained by the reaction to the new Rule 36 EPC concerning divisional applications.